Grocery stores dump plastic

Beginning Monday, plastic bags will no longer be offered to customers at ShopSmart in Harbor and Ray’s Food Place in Brookings.

C&K Market, Inc., which owns the stores, as well those in Smith River and Crescent City, said in a press release that it was making the change as part of a “renewed commitment to be a leader ... when it come sto responsible, sustainable practices regarding plastic waste.”

Customers will now have two options: free paper bags or 99-cent reusable bags, both made from recyclable material.

The stores will offer a 5-cent bag refund to customers who bring their own bags.

“By making this change, we hope to make a positive impact on each local and regional community we serve,” said Greg Sandeno, president and CEO of C&K Market, Inc. “We hope other retailers in our area will join us in this initiative.”

By using reusable bags or even paper bags twice a week for two years, a customers would replace more than 400 plastic bags, the press release said.

Americans throw away about 100 billion plastic bags annually, according to Worldwatch, an environmental research group, and it takes more than 1,000 years for a non-recyclable plastic bag to break down in a landfill.